178 



EVENINGS AT THE MICROSCOPE 



itself, so that the base is brought into close proximity to 

 the skin. Meanwhile the lancets have all been plunged 

 in, and are now sunk into your flesh to their very bottom, 

 while the labium, which formed merely the sheath for the 

 whole, is bent up upon itself, ready again to assume its 



TONGUE OF BLOW-FLY. 



straight form, as soon as the disengaged lancets require 

 its protection. 



The tongue of the common Flies (House-fly, Blow-fly, 

 etc.) is an exquisite microscopical object, from its extreme 

 complexity and beauty. You are familiar with the way 

 in which a fly, having alighted close to a drop of tea on 

 the table, applies to it a proboscis with large dilated ex- 

 tremity, and presently licks it all up. You shall now see 

 the curious implement by which this is effected. 



The broad portion of the object before us, forming its 



